HONOLULU — A career night for Mia 'Uhila sparked a stunning comeback as the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team extended its winning streak to 11 with a 65-58 win over UC Santa Barbara on Saturday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Wahine (17-6, 11-2 Big West) trailed by 19 after the first quarter and 11 at halftime. But 'Uhila ignited the UH attack with 15 points in the third quarter alone on her way to a career-high 23 point performance. The senior hit all seven of her field-goal attempts, including two 3-pointers, in the second half. She also finished with team highs in rebounds (seven) and assists (four) and committed just one turnover.
MeiLani McBee helped shift the momentum with two 3-pointers in the second quarter and went 6 for 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 12 points.
Lily Wahinekapu returned from a one-game absence and helped seal the win by scoring nine of her 11 points in the fourth quarter to reach 999 in her UH career.
By extending the program's longest winning streak since 2015, the 'Bows remained alone in first place in the Big West standings, a half-game ahead of UC Irvine. UH hasn't dropped a game since a loss at UCSB on Jan. 2 and earned a split of the regular-season series with the Gauchos (13-10, 7-6) with Saturday's win. UH also officially secured a place in the Big West Championship set for March 12-15 in Henderson, Nev.
The 'Bows kept their win streak going by overcoming a nightmarish start. UH trailed 26-7 after the opening quarter, but allowed just 32 points from the Gauchos in the final three quarters to solidify the rally. After UCSB went 10 for 17 from the field in the first 10 minutes, the UH defense held the Gauchos to 10 field goals and 25% shooting over the remainder of the game.
UH scored on the game's opening possession, but the Gauchos hit their first three 3-point attempts of the night in an 11-0 run. Kelsie Imai ended the run with a 3-pointer but UCSB started 7 for 11 from the field and went on to open up a 21-5 lead. UH, meanwhile, went 2 for 16 in the first quarter and UCSB took a 26-7 lead when Oliva Bradley hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
UH opened the second quarter with an 11-0 run with McBee hitting two 3-pointers and Brooklyn Rewers adding another from the wing to cut the deficit to 26-18. UCSB pushed the lead back to 13 with just under two minutes left in the half and UH went into locker room trailing 36-25 before 'Uhila ignited UH's third-quarter outburst.
'Uhila opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer then scored on a drive to start to turn the momentum. She hit another from long range and converted a Ritorya Tamilo block into a fast-break layup while drawing a foul. Her free throw tied it at 38-38 at the 7:11 mark of the period and she finished another drive to give UH its first lead of the night and cap a 15-2 UH run.
UCSB reclaimed a three-point lead, but UH answered again with 'Uhila tying it at 46-46 and two Imai free throws sent UH into the fourth quarter with a 48-46 lead.
UCSB tied the game on a bucket by Skylar Burke in the opening minute of the final period. The 'Bows, however, scored the next eight points, including four by 'Uhila, to take the lead for good. Wahinekapu scored on a mid-range jumper to give UH a 60-53 lead with 1:12 left and UH led by at least five the rest of the way.
After shooting 58 percent in the opening quarter, the Gauchos shot just 25 percent in the final three quarters, including 3-of-17 on threes. UCSB lost despite a stellar effort from Burke, who finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and five steals.
The Rainbow Wahine head back to California next week and open a two-game road trip against Long Beach State (12-10, 8-5) at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif., on Feb. 13. They'll then face UC Irvine (16-6, 10-2) on Feb. 15 at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif.
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